Tigers Punch Ticket to American Conference Tournament with 9-4 Win Over Charlotte

Thursday, May 14

Charlotte, N.C.

5:05 p.m.

University of Memphis

22-30, 13-12

Charlotte

26-27, 10-15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Memphis	2	1	1	0	0	0	5	0	0	9	10	1
Charlotte	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	4	8	3

Tigers Punch Ticket to American Conference Tournament with 9-4 Win Over Charlotte

May 14, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The University of Memphis (22-30, 13-12 American) baseball team opened its final regular season series with a convincing 9-4 victory over Charlotte (26-27, 10-15 American) Thursday evening at Hayes Stadium.

Behind six scoreless innings from Will Howell and a five-run seventh inning explosion, the Tigers built an early lead and never looked back. Memphis jumped ahead with home runs from Brady McAbee and Tyler Harrington before creating separation late to secure the important conference road win.

McAbee led the Tigers offensively, finishing 2-for-5 with three runs scored and a two-run homer. James Smith IV added a 3-for-5 performance with two RBI, while Trae Cassidy collected two hits including an RBI double. Memphis also drew seven walks and took advantage of three Charlotte errors in the victory.

Howell (5-6) earned the win after turning in one of his best outings of the season, allowing just two hits across six shutout innings while striking out four. Caden Robinson earned his first save after recording the final nine outs. Charlotte's Ryan Combs (3-3) was charged with the loss.

Memphis and Charlotte continue the series Friday evening with first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Memphis wasted no time getting on the board in the opening inning when Brady McAbee launched a two-run homer to right-center, scoring Javon Hernandez and giving the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.
Tyler Harrington added to the advantage in the second inning with a solo shot to right field to extend the lead to 3-0.
Memphis pushed another run across in the third after Shane Cox lined an RBI single into left-center, scoring McAbee to make it 4-0.
Will Howell kept Charlotte quiet through the first six innings, allowing just two hits while working around scattered baserunners.
The Tigers broke the game open in the seventh inning with five runs. Trae Cassidy opened the scoring with an RBI double before a wild pitch brought home another run. James Smith IV followed with a two-run single, and Michael Gupton later drew an RBI walk as Memphis stretched the lead to 9-0.
Charlotte responded with three runs in the bottom half and added another in the eighth, but Caden Robinson worked through the final innings to close out the victory.

NOTABLES

With the win Memphis clinched a spot in the American Conference Tournament in Clearwater, Florida next week.
- The Tigers will make their first appearance in the tournament since 2023 and the first in the Matt Riser era.
Freddy Rodriguez and James Smith IV both stole a base for the Tigers, bringing the team's season total to 122 steals, which ranks in the top 25 nationally and first in the conference.
- The 122 steals are the second-most in a single season in school history.
- Rodriguez extended the Memphis single-season stolen base record to 43.
  - The 43 steals rank first in the conference and second in the nation.
- Smith stole his fifth base of the season.
Memphis batters were hit by a pitch on seven different occasions, tied for the most in a single game in school history.
- The only other game to feature seven HBPs was against South Florida in 1998.
Starting pitcher Will Howell dominated the Charlotte lineup, pitching scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out four.
- Howell recorded his fourth quality start of the season, his second scoreless outing and the second-least amount of hits given up all year.
Right fielder James Smith IV had a big day at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with two RBI.
- Smith tallied his fifth game this season with at least three hits and notched his team-leading 13^th multi-RBI game.
Designated hitter Brady McAbee went 2-for-5 on the day with a home run, three runs scored and two RBI.
- McAbee increased his season total to 25 while also blasting his seventh home run, third most on the team.
First baseman Tyler Harrington hit an opposite-field home run in the second inning.
- Harrington collected his fourth home run and the Tigers' 62^nd as a team.
Center Fielder Michael Gupton hit his 11^th double of the season and drew an RBI walk.
Catcher Trae Cassidy added two hits for the third straight game, while also scoring a run and adding an RBI.
- Cassidy has now recorded 11 multi-hit games and seven doubles on the season.

SCORING SUMMARY

Top 1:
Brady McAbee homered, Javon Hernandez scored.
Memphis 2, Charlotte 0

Top 2:
Tyler Harrington homered.
Memphis 3, Charlotte 0

Top 3:
Shane Cox singled, Brady McAbee scored.
Memphis 4, Charlotte 0

Top 7:
Trae Cassidy doubled, Michael Gupton scored.
Trae Cassidy scored on a wild pitch.
James Smith IV singled, Javon Hernandez and Webb Watson scored.
Michael Gupton walked, Brady McAbee scored.
Memphis 9, Charlotte 0

Bottom 7:
Adrian Jimenez scored on a wild pitch.
Spencer Nolan singled, Cale Stricklin scored.
Todd Hudson tripled, Spencer Nolan scored.
Memphis 9, Charlotte 3

Bottom 8:
Dawson Bryce hit a sacrifice fly, Alec DeMartino scored.
Memphis 9, Charlotte 4

UP NEXT

Memphis and Charlotte will be back for game two of the series tomorrow at 5:05 p.m. at Hayes Stadium.

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